For the first time, the congressionally chartered National Safety Council is saying states should ban drivers from using hand-held and hands-free cell phones, and businesses should prohibit employees from using cell phones while driving on the job.
The group's president and chief executive, Janet Froetscher, likened talking on cell phones to drunken driving, saying cell phone use increases the risk of a crash fourfold.
No state currently bans all cell phone use while driving. Six states - California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington - and the District of Columbia ban the use of hand-held cell phones behind the wheel. Also, 17 states and the district restrict or ban cell phone use by novice drivers.
Safety Council officials acknowledged a total ban could take years.
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On the Net:
National Safety Council: http://www.nsc.org/resources/issues/distracted-driving.aspx
CTIA-The Wireless Association: http://www.ctia.org/
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/1/216733